Trousers-stretcher



(No Model.)

F. W. WATKINS.

TROUSERS STRETGHER. No. 488,234. Patented Dec. 20, 1892.

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FRANK W. WATKINS, OF NEWV BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

TROUSERS-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,234, dated December 20, 1892.

Application filed October 8 1892- Serial No. 448,197. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK W. WATKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Bedford, in the countyof Bristol and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Stretching the Legs of Trousers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention, is to provide a device, by means of which, the effects of the stretching of the cloth of the trousers over the knee, is counteracted; a crease, formed in the front and back of the trousers, and their shape preserved.

To this end my invention consists in the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention. Fig.2 is a plan view of a pair of trousers, showing in dotted lines, my stretching device inserted in the legs thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my invention, showing the two halves Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of two of the adjacent ends of oneof the curved sides, showing their construction, and the manner in which they are interlocked; and Fig. 5 is an edge View of the same, showing them interlocked.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

a, a, are two curved bars, arranged, parallel to each other, and having their ends connected by the springs c, c. The bars a, a, are divided centrally of their length, and their adjacent ends are provided with the open ended slots Z, and the headed studs 70.

b, is a spring, connecting the side bars a, at, intermediate between their ends.

(1, d, d, d, are hooks attached to one of the side bars a, and adapted to hook into the eyes it, h, h, h, with which the opposite side bar, is provided.

The operation of the device is as follows. The side bars 66, a, being adjusted together as shown in Fig. 1, and compressed and held in a retracted position by the hooks cl, as

shown in Fig.3, the device is inserted in the leg of the trousers, with the convex curve, toward the rear, and the concave curve toward the front. The hooks d, which hold the side bars a, a, in a retracted position, are then re leased from the eyes h, when the springs c, c, and 1), cause the side bars a, a, to press with considerable force to stretch the trousers leg laterally. The trousers leg is then stretched longitudinally by hand, and is held in position by the spurs g. The bars a, a, curving to the rear, counteract the effects of the stretch of the cloth over the knee; and the outer edge of the bars a, a, make the fashionable crease in the front and back of the trousers. When the trousers are sufficiently stretched, or when it is desired to remove the device from them, the side bars a, a, are pressed together sufficiently to insert the hooks d, in the eyes it, and the device can then be removed without trouble. The hooks d, are preferably made of spring wire, and rigidly secured so that they will always stand in the proper position to engage with the eyes it. When made in this manner, they can easily be operated, without inserting the hand in the trousers leg.

Itwill be understood that it is designed to have one of these devices for each trousers leg. WVhen the device is separated in the center, and the sides contracted by the hooks cl, as shown in Fig. 3, it is in handy and portable shape to pack in a hand-bag.

I claim- A device for stretching the legs of trousers, both laterally and longitudinally, consisting of the two curved parallel bars a, a, divided centrally and having their meeting ends provided with the slots Z, and headed studs k, and their outer ends provided with the springs c, and spurs g, the intermediate spring I), the contracting hooks d and eyes h, all as shown and described.

FRANK W. WATKINS.

Witnesses:

J AMES 0. HITCH, HENRY W. MASON. 

